XRT is the electric car you’d consider aiming at a gravel rally stage. 

HAVING smashed out a superb N-credentialed Ioniq 5 for the race track, Hyundai has now turned its attention to fettling the electric model for rally roads.

The Ioniq 5 XRT is still a long way short of replicating the Hayden Paddon-created gravel-rashing world-first Kona EV Rally whose next outing is the famous Ashley Forest rally sprint later this month.

 But it has one advantage. 

Whereas the Kiwi star’s mud-chucking wonder car is a one-off, the XRT is a production model.

Okay, a production model for just the United States, for the moment. 

The XRT has been created by Hyundai there as a kind of equal to the Mustang Mach-E Rally, that Ford chucked onto the scene last year and is also just for North America just now. XRT production will restrict to the make’s plant in Georgia, Alabama, so only fits out for left-hand drive.

The XRT isn’t an Ioniq N with beefed up suspension. Rather it’s a regular dual motor factory car, with all the 2025 updates that are en route here.

These span from a revamped front and rear styling to interior upgrades with improved, enlarged screens. 

From there, the XRT does battle with the Mach-E Rally much the same way as the N does with the Mach-E GT,  with some off-road focused gear added in for good measure.

XRT differentiates from the rest of the lineup with unique front and rear fascias that improve both approach and departure angles, along with unique black 18-inch wheels wearing 235/60R all-terrain tires.

There’s plenty of black trim including the window surrounds, side sills, mirror caps, and flying “H” badges on the hood and tailgate, while the tail gate badging is also finished the dark hue, coupled with etched digital camouflage cladding. The XRT is also available in two exterior colours that the regular model isn’t – Ultimate Red and Cosmic Blue Pearl.

Inside the cabin, the Ioniq 5 XRT gets special badged all-weather floor mats, a black headliner, and H-Tex seating surfaces featuring an XRT-unique pattern and logo. 

Mechanically speaking, the XRT is only available in the dual-motor all-wheel drive configuration with the 84 kWh battery, and it also gets a 23mm suspension lift and unique tuning.

So, essentially, it’s a taste of what’s possible. And a long way short, realistically, from being one of those cars that ask for little more than the addition of a race number on the doors to warrant trying out in competition. Like Paddon’s car, even if that was a potential, range would likely be a challenge. 

You’d only get halfway around next weekend’s national rally championship round, Manawatu’s Daybreak Rally,  before needing a big replenish. 

Even so, it does show another potential for EV.